On iPhone or iPad, open your project, tap Add Media > Audio > Soundtracks, preview a track, then tap Add Audio. On a Mac, open Audio & Video above the browser, pick a track under Music, and drag it into the background music well below the timeline. The details differ depending on where the audio comes from, so the steps below are split by platform and source.
Which audio source should you use?
| Source | Best for | What to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Built-in Soundtracks | Fastest option; placed at the start and fitted to the project length automatically | Dimmed tracks must be downloaded before previewing |
| Your Music library (My Music) | A specific song you own | Songs must be downloaded; DRM-protected music cannot be used; copyright permission applies |
| An audio file (iCloud Drive, Finder) | Most control over where the audio starts; also music from GarageBand or other apps | The file must be in a supported format and available on the device or in the cloud |
Sources: Apple Support on soundtracks and sound effects, music in iMovie on iPhone and songs and other audio files.
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iPhone or iPad
Add a built-in soundtrack
- Open your project so the timeline is showing.
- Tap Add Media, then Audio, then Soundtracks.
- Tap a soundtrack to preview it. If it is dimmed, tap it to download it first, then preview.
- Tap Add Audio beside the one you want.
Apple says iMovie places the soundtrack at the start and automatically fits it to the project length. You can later adjust it like other clips, and you can use more than one soundtrack. For theme music, scroll to Theme Music within Soundtracks. (Apple Support; iPhone guide)
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- Open the project and tap Add Media > Audio > My Music.
- Browse a category, then tap a song to preview it.
- Tap Add Audio.
A dimmed song usually needs downloading in the Music app first. (Apple Support)
#1 Best Overall
- This phone is unlocked and compatible with any carrier of choice on GSM and CDMA networks (e.g. AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon, US Cellular, Cricket, Metro, Tracfone, Mint Mobile, etc.).
- Please check with your carrier to verify compatibility.
- The device does not come with headphones or a SIM card. It does include a generic (Mfi certified) charging cable.
- Tested for battery health and guaranteed to have a minimum battery capacity of 80%.
Add an audio file from iCloud Drive
- Move the playhead to where the audio should begin.
- Tap Add Media > Audio > iCloud Drive.
- Browse to the file, select it, and tap Add Audio.
Apple notes that a clip shorter than a minute may behave like a sound effect and appear at the playhead, while longer audio behaves like a song. (Apple Support)
Songs made in GarageBand, Logic Pro or another app can also be brought in through iCloud Drive or your computer’s Music app. GarageBand for iPhone can share a song as an audio file and open it in a compatible app such as iMovie.
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- Rear camera: 48MP, f/1.6, wide + 12MP, f/2.2, ultrawide, Front Camera: 12MP, f/1.9, wide, iOS 18, upgradable to iOS 18.5
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Mac
- Open the movie in the timeline and click Audio & Video above the browser.
- In the sidebar, choose Music, Apple TV or Sound Effects, then browse and preview.
- For background music, drag the track to the background music well below the timeline.
- For a sound clip tied to a specific video clip, drag it into the timeline instead. To use only part of the source, select a range on its waveform first.
Other audio files can be dragged in from Finder. (Apple Support, Mac; audio files)
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- Soundtracks and background music are independent of the video. They sit in their own area, so editing video clips does not move them. Sound effects, by contrast, attach to the video clip above them and move with it.
- Looping and fitting. On iPhone and iPad, background music loops by default, and multiple songs play one at a time.
- Mac trimming. If Trim background music is enabled in the movie’s settings, music in the well is trimmed to match the movie’s duration. Otherwise you can position and trim it yourself.
- Volume. On mobile, select the audio clip and use the Volume control. Apple also lists fades and speed changes as adjustments.
Troubleshooting
- Track is dimmed: it likely needs downloading to the device, either from Soundtracks or in the Music app.
- Song won’t import: DRM-protected music cannot be used in iMovie, and some file types are unsupported. Convert or use a supported file you have rights to.
- Audio lands in the wrong place: on iPhone, set the playhead before adding a file from iCloud Drive, then drag the clip afterward.
Copyright: access is not permission
Being able to play or buy a song does not automatically let you put it in a video. Apple’s guidance says: “To use a song you purchased from the iTunes Store in your project, you must be the copyright holder of the song or have express permission from the copyright holder.” (iPhone guide; Mac guide.) If you plan to publish, the safest routes are iMovie’s built-in soundtracks, your own recordings, or music whose license explicitly covers your intended video use.
Quick Recap
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- Unlocked for freedom to choose your carrier. Compatible with both GSM & CDMA networks. The phone is unlocked to work with all GSM Carriers & CDMA Carriers Including AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, Straight Talk., Etc.
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- This pre-owned product is not Apple certified, but has been professionally inspected, tested and cleaned by Amazon-qualified suppliers.
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